Rodents Cause Serious Problems Such as Chewing Electrical Wires
A live rat was found in an airplane meal, causing the plane to make an emergency landing.
On the 20th (local time), according to foreign media including the British BBC, Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) stated, "On the 18th, a rat was found in a passenger's in-flight meal, causing one of our flights to land unexpectedly."
The flight made an emergency landing in Copenhagen while en route from Oslo, the capital of Norway, to Malaga, Spain. Airline spokesperson Øystein Schmidt explained, "The 'furry stowaway' posed a threat to passenger safety, so we took a detour according to company procedures." Passengers were transferred to other flights to reach their original destination, Malaga.
A passenger who witnessed the incident posted on their Facebook, "When a woman next to me opened her in-flight meal box, a rat jumped out," but added, "(Although there was some commotion) the passengers remained calm and were not stressed at all."
Generally, airlines strictly prohibit rodents such as rats from entering airplanes. Rodents inside the aircraft can chew on wires and cause serious problems. Spokesperson Schmidt said, "Procedures are already in place to deal with such situations," and emphasized, "It appears this time the rat came in through the food box. We will inspect the (in-flight meal) suppliers to prevent this from happening again."
Incidents where rodents infiltrate transportation vehicles and disrupt operations occur frequently. In 2017, a rat was found on a British Airways flight from London Heathrow to San Francisco, causing a four-hour delay and requiring a replacement aircraft. Additionally, on the 14th, two squirrels boarded a train on a southern England rail line, causing the service to be suspended.
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